Pairing Wine & Food

There are no hard-and-fast rules for pairing wine with food, but there are some guidelines. Light-bodied wines generally pair well with lighter food, while fuller-bodied wines complement heartier dishes. Consider, too, the primary flavor of a dish (sweet, sour, salty, bitter), because that will influence your perception of the wine.

Sweet Food

Always pair desserts and sweet foods with even sweeter wines. The sweetness of the food will diminish the apparent sweetness of the wine, making it taste more tart and tannic.

Suggestions: Cheesecake and Riesling, chocolate cake and port wine

Sour Food

Sour food will enhance the sweetness of a wine, so it’s a great match for crisp whites.